tannins and punicalin

Punicalagin and punicalin were isolated from the leaves of Terminalia catappa L., a Combretaceous plant distributed throughout tropical and subtropical beaches, which is used for the treatment of dermatitis and hepatitis. Our previous studies showed that both of these compounds exert antioxidative activity. In this study, the antihepatotoxic activity of punicalagin and punicalin on acetaminophen-induced toxicity in the rat liver was evaluated. After evaluating the changes of several biochemical functions in serum, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were increased by acetaminophen administration and reduced by punicalagin and punicalin. Histological changes around the hepatic central vein and oxidative damage induced by acetaminophen were also recovered by both compounds. The data show that both punicalagin and punicalin exert antihepatotoxic activity, but treatment with larger doses enhanced liver damage. These results suggest that even if punicalagin and punicalin have antioxidant activity at small doses, treatment with larger doses will possibly induce some cell toxicities.

Topics: Acetaminophen; Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Antioxidants; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Hydrolyzable Tannins; Lipid Peroxidation; Liver; Liver Diseases; Male; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rosales; Tannins

Punicalagin and punicalin were isolated from the leaves of Terminalia catappa L. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of punicalagin and punicalin carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats. After evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effects, the edema rates were increased by carrageenan administration and reduced by drug treatment. After 4 hr of carrageenan administration, the best effect group was the punicalagin (10 mg/kg) treated group (inhibition rate was 58.15%), and the second was the punicalagin (5 mg/kg)-treated group (inhibition rate was 39.15%). However, even if the anti-inflammatory activity of punicalagin was the same as punicalin at the 5 mg/kg dose, the inhibition effect from larger doses of punicalagin was increased, but there was a decrease with a larger dose of punicalin. The data showed that both punicalagin and punicalin exert anti-inflammatory activity, but treatment with larger doses of punicalin may induce some cell damages.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Antioxidants; Carrageenan; Hydrolyzable Tannins; Indomethacin; Inflammation; Kinetics; Male; Rats; Rats, Inbred WKY; Tannins

Punicalagin and punicalin, isolated from the leaves of Terminalia catappa L., are used to treat dermatitis and hepatitis. Both compounds have strong antioxidative activity. The antihepatotoxic activity of punicalagin and punicalin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced toxicity in the rat liver was evaluated. Levels of serum glutamate-oxalate-transaminase and glutamate-pyruvate-trans-aminase were increased by administration of CCl4 and reduced by drug treatment. Histological changes around the liver central vein and oxidation damage induced by CCl4 also benefited from drug treatment. The results show that both punicalagin and punicalin have anti-hepatotoxic activity but that the larger dose of punicalin induced liver damage. Thus even if tannins have strong antioxidant activity at very small doses, treatment with a larger dose will induce cell damage.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Animals; Antioxidants; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Hydrolyzable Tannins; Lipid Peroxidation; Liver; Male; Plant Leaves; Plants, Medicinal; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reactive Oxygen Species; Taiwan; Tannins